GRANADA., a celebrated city in Spain, and capital of the province of that name, is pleasantly situated on two small hills, at the extremity of a beautiful and extensive plain. It was built by the Moors in the tenth century, and was finally reduced by the Spanish armies in 1492, after a siege of more than twelve months. At that period it is said to have covered a space three leagues in circumfe rence, and to have contained 400,000 inhabitants, a state ment unquestionably far above the truth, Its walls were defended by more than a thousand towers ; and it was far ther protected by two fortresses, on the summits of the two adjoining hills, each of which was capable of containing 40,000 men. These fortresses still remain, but the walls and gates of the city are demolished, and-many of its finest structures in a state of decay. It nevertheless exhibits evident proofs of its former magnificence ; and its appear ance from a distance is described as peculiarly majestic. The plain before it is above 30 leagues in circumference, and about 1200 miles above the level of the sea, but so completely inclosed by mountains of stupendous height, as to have all the appearance of a delicious valley. It is watered by five rivers, and intersected by numerous rivu lets and canals ; covered with the richest meadows, forests of oak, plantations of orange trees, and sugar cane, fields of corn and flax, orchards of fruit-trees, and all kinds of ve getables ; bounded on the north by the lofty Sierra Nevada, with the mountains of Elvira, and on the other side by suc cessive amphitheatres of hills, agreeably planted with vines, olive, mulberry, lemon, and orange trees. It contains with in its circuit not less than 52 towns ; and in its centre ap pears the Soto de Roma, which is a beautiful wood of elms, white poplars, and ash trees, full of game, especially phea sants, more than a league in length, and half a league in breadth, and formerly the retreat of the Moorish kings. At the termination of this fertile plain, the city of Granada is perceived from a considerable distance, extending in the form of a half moon from the river, along the gradual as cent of a hill, its streets rising above each other, exhibiting a profusion of turrets and guilded cupolas ; the summit of the whole crowned by the palace of the Alhambra, and the back ground composed of the majestic Sierra Nevada, co vered with snow. But the splendid illusions, created by this distant view, are sadly dissipated by a nearer inspec tion of its fallen grandeur. It was formerly divided into four quarters, which may still be considered as distinctly marked, namely, the quarter of Alhambra, which princi pally contains that immense citadel on the mountain of the sun, and where the splendid palace of the Moorish kings is still in existence, and in a state of sufficient repair to impress the spectator with the most lively idea of its ori ginal beauties ; the quarter of Albayzin, a kind of suburb on the rising ground, separated from the town by a rampart, and containing about 4000 houses ; the quarter of Antique rula, which has the appearance of another suburb built upon the plain, was peopled by the settlers from Ante quern, and is principally occupied by dyers and silk-wea vers; and the quarter of Granada which covers the com mencement of the plain, and a part of the valley between the two mountains, and is the best built and best inhabit ed part of the town. The river Darro runs through the middle of the city, and empties itself into the Xenil, which passes near the walls. The extent of the whole town is much the same as it was in the time of the Moors, but it is thinly inhabited in proportion to its buildings ; and the present population is only about 60,000. The streets are generally narrow, and the houses very inferior in their ap pearance to those of many other cities in Spain. Even those which surround the market-place are very despica ble, few of the upper apartments having glass in the win dows, and the shops below being very indifferently suppli ed with goods. But there are many fine buildings, hand some squares, extensive gardens, and beautiful fountains in different parts of the city. The El Campo is a large
square at the entrance of the town, on the road from An tequera, and is partly occupied by an hospital, which is a large and handsome building. The Plaza Mayor in the middle of the town is very spacious ; and is used for pub lic shows, particularly the bull-fights. The Biva Rambla, a handsome area, 400 feet by 200, is embellished by an elegant jasper fountain, and has on one side the Alcaxeria, and on the other the Chancery; the latter of which has a very handsome front, ornamented with alabaster columns, and a range of windows with gilt balconies ; and the for mer, an immense edifice without ornament, formerly the bazar of the Moors, still contains about 200 shops : these shops are so very small, that the owner, sitting in the cen tre, is able to reach whatever his customers may require, without rising from his scat. The cathedral is a very splendid but irregular building. It has a handsome dome resting on 12 arches, supported by 12 pilasters; and against these columns are placed the statues of the twelve apostles, in gilt bronze, as large as life. The vault is full of paintings, and two rows of gilded balconies run round it above the arcades. In this church are some of the best pictures and statues by the celebrated Spanish artist Alonzo Cano, and his pupil Pedro de Mena. The palace of the archbishop stands close to the cathedral, and is a very extensive man sion, and of a handsome appearance. But the most inter esting and splendid object in Granada is the Alhambra, the ancient fortress or palace of the Moorish kings, described in a former article: (See ALHAMBRA.) Though this no ble structure is fast hastening to decay, and likely to be come in a few years a heap of ruins, it is still viewed by travellers with the strongest sensations of wonder and de light. In a higher situation on an opposite bill, is another palace, called the Generaliffe, which was used as a retreat in the intense heats of summer. The rooms are floored with marble, and have streams of the clearest water rush ing through them. It is surrounded by gardens, groves and orchards, planted with orange, lemon, and cypress trees, and provided with a multiplicity of transparent pools and crystal fountains. Most of the houses have fountains and baths in their courts, which, besides supplying water for domestic uses, moderate by their coolness the extreme heat of the climate in the summer season. In imitation of the Moors, the present inhabitants spread an awning over these courts to keep off the sun, and live there all the summer, eating their meals and receiving their visitors amidst its refreshing coolness. The environs of the city are delightful, and the shady walks on the banks of the Xenil, with others more wild and romantic on the Darro, afford the most re freshing and pleasing retreats. The sides of the hills around the city abound with caves resembling the troglodyte habita tions in Abyssinia. They were originally employed as grana ries for corn, but are now inhabited by gipsies, who are very numerous in the south of Spain, and are said to bear a great resemblance to the same class of people in England. Granada contains an university and an academy for mathe matics, but they have no library, few masters, and scarcely any students. There is a royal manufactory for saltpetre and gunpowder; and several for woollen cloths and serges, which are said to employ about 7000 persons, and to con sume 460,000 pounds of wool annually. Silk stuffs, such as velvets, sattins, and taffetas of a very durable quality, are made in the city, and a considerable quantity of rib bons, in the manufacture of which the spring shuttle used at Coventry is generally adopted, the only kind of machi nery observed in the manufactories of the place. See Jacob's Travels in Spain; Townsend's Travels in Spain ; Laborde's View of Spain ; and Murphy's splendid work, entitled, the ?rabian .4nliquilies of Spain, Loud. 1815.
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